by B.B. Pelletier
Air Arms S400 MPR FT alert!
Before I start today’s report, I want to make an update to the Air Arms S400 MPR FT blog. Blog reader “coax” asked me to adjust the air transfer port screw to see if I could increase the power of the rifle. Following his instruction to locate that screw, I removed the action from the stock, but I cannot locate the screw he mentions. He says it is located below the loading trough, which I took to mean underneath the loading trough (the bottom of the action) at the rear of the reservoir. Well, there’s nothing to see on the reservoir itself, but on the action just behind the reservoir there is a threaded hole like he describes. The problem is that there is no screw inside that threaded hole. And that is the only threaded hole that I can see.
So there isn’t going to be any power adjustment report on this rifle. If coax wants to send me photos of exactly what he’s referencing, I will look again, but otherwise, the report is completed.
The Air Arms Twice precharged pneumatic air rifle is a dual-reservoir rifle with the air cylinders arranged side-by-side. The rifle has a rollover raised cheekpiece, so it is reasonably ambidextrous, though the bolt stays on the right side.
What is a Twice?
Now, on to today’s report. The Air Arms Twice PCP air rifle will certainly never win any awards for the name! Why they didn’t call it the Double-Up or something — anything — but Twice is beyond me. However, in the spirit of Shakespeare who said, “A rose, by any other name…” we will proceed. (I haven’t forgotten that Pyramyd AIR took a survey about other names. Maybe they’ll christen it something else in the near future.)
This view shows the ends of the twin air reservoirs. There’s only a single fill port on the end of the right reservoir tube (the tube on the left in this photo).
The name Twice refers to the twin reservoir tubes under the barrel. Obviously, they increase the amount of compressed air the rifle can hold, yet by their design, the rifle is not made substantially taller. Wider, yes, but in the same sense that a double-barreled shotgun is wide. It’s width with elegance.
And, I’m testing serial number 098425, for those who are keeping score. The rifle came to me with a Bushnell Banner 6-18x50AO scope mounted on it. While that’s a good, useable scope, it doesn’t do justice to a premium PCP rifle like the Twice. Since I have the Hawke Sport Optics 4.5-14x42AO Tactical Sidewinder rifle scope on hand, I switched it for the Bushnell. Why not? After all, one doesn’t buy a Ferrari and then fill the tank with 87 octane fuel! A premium rifle deserves a premium scope.
It is a big air rifle!
Let me get this out of the way; because when these rifles start selling, you’re going to read about it on the forums. The Twice is a very large air rifle. Those twin reservoir tubes make it a real handful and that’s that. Also the barrel’s shrouded, which adds to the look of massiveness. The rifle isn’t heavy, at 7.50 lbs., but it is muzzle-heavy. I know there are those who think a muzzle-heavy rifle is a bad thing, but it isn’t if you want to hit things! The extra weight out toward the muzzle slows down the tendency all rifles have to wobble. The Twice hangs right in your hands if you put your off hand just forward of the trigger. My Ballard is very muzzle-heavy, and it doesn’t seem to suffer any.
Repeater
Of course, this is also a repeater. It features a 10-round magazine that loads the next pellet every time the sidelever pulls the bolt to the rear and shoves it forward again. Having used Air Arms repeaters in the past, I believe this one will be butter-smooth to cock and shoot. I’ll let you know when I test it.
Adjustable power
There’s a power-adjustment control on the right side of the receiver, with an index scale on the left side. I will test that function and report my findings during the velocity test.
Here you see the sidelever that operates the bolt. Just in front of the lever handle is the silver power adjustment knob. A scale on the other side of the rifle tells you where the power has been set.
It’s hard to see in this photo, but the symbol at the right of the scale is a plus, meaning greater power. The symbol at the left is a minus.
The specs say the Twice is a 20 foot-pound rifle in .177 caliber. Because it’s a pneumatic, it’ll develop the most power with the heaviest pellets…and I’ll be testing it that way. That’s the only way it’ll be the most accurate at long range.
The Twice also will be available in .22 caliber, which I think would be the caliber of choice for a gun in this power range. They rate it at 30 foot-pounds in .22 caliber, and that’s about what I would have guessed. There are so many wonderful new heavyweight pellets in .22 caliber that I would think an owner would want to test them all.
The specs also say you get 180 shots on low power and 60 on high. Unfortunately, a .22 caliber pneumatic will always be more efficient with air than a .177. That number was probably gotten with the larger caliber, but I’ll purposely test this .177 gun at both ends of the power spectrum for you.
General impression
The woodwork is nice, but it’s different than the classic look of the TX 200. Only the grip is checkered and the diamonds are sharp, laser-cut and very crisp. The Air Arms logo is also cut into the grip. The butt is scalloped below the cheekpiece on both sides for weight reduction, I presume. That lightens the rifle but increases the muzzle-heaviness.
The stock is finished evenly in a medium brown stain. The reservoir tubes are finished matte, and the shroud is a matching matte finish. The overall look screams “Hunter,” so that’s what I believe the rifle was made to do. With all that air on board, we should see a good shot string at all power levels.
The rifle is an FAC type. FAC stands for Firearm Certificate, which owners will need to own this airgun in the United Kingdom. Once a rifle has been designated FAC, it can never be downgraded to a legal air rifle again, so this will always be an FAC rifle. Because getting an FAC can be quite difficult in the UK, that means the Twice was created for the U.S. market, primarily, because we don’t have the same power restrictions the UK has, except for a couple of states. The United States is also starting to embrace airgun hunting, so I think Air Arms is testing the waters to see if the market is there for them. Certainly, they’ve seen the success of all the AirForce, Beeman, Benjamin, Daystate, Evanix and Weihrauch precharged rifles over here and want to get in on the market. It’ll be interesting to see if the U.S. hunting market can sustain a $1,360 PCP in the face of all the other guns that currently exist. If the Twice can deliver on the promise of power, accuracy, power adjustment and a long shot string, it just might be the best new gun in town. We shall see.
B.B.
That sounds surprisingly light for such a big rifle with double tanks. Not surprised about the weight forward part. Like that myself at times as long as it is not way too much forward and heavy.
I hefted a reproduction of a Remington rolling block buffalo gun one time. No forarm and straight stock. .50×3 1/2 I believe ( 50/120 or .50/140?). Shooting sticks required for sure. I shouldered it and almost fell on my face when I tried to hold it up. That barrel was big and HEAVY.
For some reason I don’t like a rifle that has too much hanging out there in front of the stock. Think this one would look better with a few inches cut off.
For some other reason or another, at first glance the first things that came to mind were “drilling” and the double tank super soakers.
An off topic note…doctor visit yesterday (ENT). He is happy….I am happy. Also have no more appointments for 4 months. Only have 4 friggin’ doctors.
twotalon
twotalon,
Congratulations on your happy medical news for having only 4 doctors remaining. We’re also rapidly approaching the end of Tom’s need for medical oversight 🙂
Edith
Uh…’medical oversight’. I guess that is a clean way of saying what you would like to say.
I am not too happy about some ‘medical oversights’ and ‘bedside manner’ either.
twotalon
That’s good news TT.
The goal is to stay away from those guys and the hospitals!
twotalon,
Congratulations on the doctor visit!
I was pronounced healed a couple weeks ago. Just have to get a pancreatic stent removed at the end of this month and get my hernia repaired and I’ll be back in the chorus line.
B.B.
Back to magnum springers and handpumps pretty soon?
I lost enough weight that I need a running start to get 190 bar of pressure. 180 is no problem.
Springers..the only one that is tough is the 97K. Not a lot of leverage so it is a lot more work than the others.
twotalon
twotalon,
Oh, bringer of good health news! I rejoice! Glad to see you’re down to Dr. Four Friggens.
-Chuck
twotalon
I like it, when boths sides are happy. Next time try to shock him (her) and get well twice faster than expected 🙂
duskwight
Not really a matter of getting better.
There is permanent damage, but that is not what he is looking for. New things that are not supposed to be there are the issue. As long as my little friends do not come back we are both happy.
twotalon
twotalon,
Congratulations sir. Thank you for the wonderful update on your health. I’ve been shooting my Talon SS on CO2 when plinking and targetting saving the HPA and its pumping for hunting and long range plinking.
Bruce
Good morning Bruce.
I have been shooting my springers indoors some of the time. Sometimes from indoors to outdoors.
I know I can still pump my Talon tanks because I have topped them off in preperation for when I can get outside and get the Talon with full Condor power zeroed in. I have to see if there is too much velocity to hold adequate accuracy. If not, then back to the 18″ barrel. Then there will be groundhogs to kill.
I can still get to 190 bar, but with some work. I only weigh 145 now. Previously had been around 170-175.
Glad I did not get a Co2 or scuba setup. No place to get a fill around here. Contrary to popular beliefs, there are not always scuba shops, paintball shops, or cooperative fire departments in every neighborhood. As long as I can pump I have everything under control.
A better shooting bench is pretty much the first item on my must have list. Caldwell Stable Table at the top of the list. Could use a few more of some pellets, but they are of the lesser used variety.
twotalon
BB, Air Arms has come a long way since the humble Shamal (which I wish I still had).
Generally, I think the hi-end airgun companies have to revise their thinking and game plan on how to market these high priced guns in the U.S. $1360 will buy a darn good Savage or CZ hunting rifle/firearm, decent scope and a bag of ammo for the average hunter/shooter. How do we get his attention and $$$ to buy a $1300 airgun? The group on this blog and other aficionados of airguns readily see the value and quality of this rifle, even if they don’t (necessarily) accept the pricing but, “Joe Gamo” and other non-hobbyists probably don’t or won’t? UK manufacturing costs are some of the highest globally, but Air Arms dare not make these guns in China, it would be the end of their QC and level of craftsmanship as we know it.
BTW, this is one beautiful gun and I would love to have one. Gotta go buy my Lottery Ticket now!
Brian,
I don’t know that the folks on this blog will accept the rationale behind the AA Twice especially if it’s meant to be used for hunting. Unless you are after prairie dogs or ground squirrels, there’s just not a lot of call for hundreds of shots. On most of my squirrel and rabbit hunts, I rarely get a chance to shoot more that 10 pellets at game.
What other feature does it offer to the hunter? I just don’t see it’s value when for the same price you could buy Marauders in all calibers or a Condor with all barrels plus a few extra air reservoirs — and you wouldn’t have to worry too much about getting them dinged up in the woods. Limiting it to .177 really hurts when trying to market to a hunting demographic. It doesn’t make sense as a hunting rig given the competition and it’s MSRP.
I whole heartedly agree that the new airgunner won’t touch this one; especially once they figure out that you have to buy a bunch of equipment to keep it filled. That’s probably true of all PCPs though.
Perhaps it might make more sense as a field target gun?
Yup, I hear ya! What I meant by “value” was more to the point of the quality of materials and craftsmanship of the AA guns and how folks on here appreciate these finer guns. The $1365 + $300 of bottle and hoses etc, get’s you looking at the south end of $2k pretty quick. As you noted, that’s a stable of Discoverys or Marauders or more if you are buying used.
Kinda like the new Jaguar cars at $100k and $75k, why would you when Lexus has similar stuff for $71k and $55k?
Still, AA guns are sweet, no doubt about it (but so are Weatherbys and I don’t own one)
Brian,
You never owned a Weatherby? Well, change that right quick. I bought a German-made .270 Magnum back when I was a poor second lieutenant in the very early 1970s and it was the finest sporting rifle I ever owned. Recoil was almost non-existent (and I am a wimp when it comes to recoil) and the rifle was a tack-driver.
Get the Mark V. Don’t mess with the cheaper guns with synthetic stocks.
If I didn’t have to pay off bills after a divorce I would still own that rifle today.
B.B.
Same here BB, at least that’s my excuse!
Sad thing is I lived not far from Weatherby so many years ago in Whittier Ca, and I think they were in South Gate, very near the LA city line. Man what a place that was! All the shiny guns they had in there!
BB back to the AA Twice..maybe let the AA folks in the UK know that .22 and .25 woud be the cals of choice for hunters over here?
BTW, since I have no idea, what would constitute good sales volume in AA’s or PA’s opinion on these higher end guns? 300 per year? 400? More? Less?
I like the Air Arms Twice. My buddy Curt has one. I’m an air arms fan so you need to know that. My first pcp was a AA S410 .22 with thumbhole stock. Still one of my favorites. With my disclaimers out of the way here’s what I’ll add.
I like that air arms took a different path than most manufactures seeing a higher shot count in their guns. I expected to see an air arms bottle gun when they leaked their info about their new guns shot count. Yes, it looks big but the twice wears the same stock as my S410. When you take the action out of the stock you’ll see that the difference is inletting for the twin tubes. The biggest difference is that the twice has a truly ambidextrous stock. This was a big selling point to Curt since he’s left handed but his boys aren’t. He has always liked my AA S410 but it’s not ambidextrous. Air Arms has also moved the twin reservoirs rearward when compared to the AA S410.
The Twice has an amazing shot count. When we shot together Curt kept on shooting while I was back in the garage filling my AA S410. That prompted me to acquire a bottle gun that has a very high shot count since I’d rather be shooting than filling. Still prefer the looks of the Twice and AA S410 to a bottle gun but I’m trying to get over that.
kevin
Kevin, how’s the noise level on the Twice? Less or more than the S410?
Brian in Idaho,
Same level of report. Same actions, same power adjuster, same trigger, same magazine, etc. etc.
Different stocks and the Twice has a larger air capacity (twin tubes). That’s my take. Maybe there are other differences but I haven’t noticed them. I haven’t been inside my S410 and haven’t been inside Curts Twice. Never needed to. My gun, out of the box has been problem free. Curt hasn’t had his gun very long but he hasn’t had any problems either.
We did take his stock off to adjust the trigger and at the same time I took my S410 out of its stock to compare. The stocks are almost identical in length, width, etc. When shouldering the Twice if you wrap your fingers around the forestock you’ll touch the twin tubes and that makes it feel wider. If you just rest the gun in your hand rather than wrap it around the gun the Twice and S410 feel the same.
kevin
Kevin,
I am impressed. How did an American get a Twice, when Air Arms only recently saw it themselves? The rifle was designed elsewhere and Air Arms is the maker.
B.B.
B.B.,
Curt bought it online. It arrived in Colorado last week. We shot it last Saturday together. I’ll ask him who he bought it from and let you know.
kevin
B.B.,
Curt bought the gun from a member on the Air Arms forum (didn’t even know there was such a forum). He made the deal quite awhile ago but the guy said he wouldn’t ship the gun until after the SHOT Show???? It arrived late last week.
I didn’t realize that PA doesn’t have these in stock. Where did you get the Air Arms Twice that you’re testing?
kevin
Kevin,
It’s one of two rifles Pyramyd AIR has to test before it becomes live (in stock). That’s what I am doing.
The rifle was designed in Italy and Air Arms didn’t know much about it until recently. Obviously their technology was used in the rifle, but the styling is Italian.
B.B.
styled in Italy by Domino
I like the appearance of the gun – very elegant.
I’m working on building a PCP gun, following a design I found, but I don’t like the idea relying on external air-source. If I had a strong enough pump, would it be possible (safe) to just attach it next to or under the air reservoir, in essence making a high-powered multi-stroke?
Josey,
It’s been done that way for over three hundred years. Go for it!
B.B.
The FX Independent is a good, production example of a multi-stage pump gun. Very spendy though!
B.B,
That threaded hole is what I was talking about. Sorry for the miscommunication, as the stock didn’t need to come off. There is a very small allen head ajustment down in there. I can’t remember what size it was, but I think it was the smallest allen wrench I had ever used.
BB, probably a 2mm hex key like the bolt handle retaining screw down inside the bolt of the TF79.
Coax,
Thanks for getting back to me on that. I will look again. I have all Allen sizes down to 0.050″.
B.B.
Coax,
I just looked at my rifle and there are no threaded holes anywhere except the top of the receiver bridge. There are two recessed Allen screws on the top forward flat of the receiver.
At the bottom of the stock at the handhold just forward of the trigger (the balance point) there are two deep threaded holes, but I looked inside both and there is no Allen screw. I also cocked the bolt and found nothing in the trough. Is it possible a change has been made to the rifle?
B.B.
B.B.
Maybe coax has the 200s, mine has that small allen screw screw there. there is a half moon scalop in the stock for access right below and in front of the the loading port . I have adjusted this out just enough to get a good solid 12 ft. lbs.
Loren
forgot to proof read, guess my keyboard is stuttering.
Loren, do you have an S200? What vintage (ie one piece or two piece stock) and how do you like the gun? CZ USA has their version (as the maker) for sale at $429 with a red laminate stock and a 4X scope mounted etc.
Do you hand pump yours or…? And you noted an adjustment screw, does that manage the valve opening or hammer strike or…?
Too many questions, I know.
Brian in Idaho:
Yes I have the S200 its the one piece stock, in fact it’s the very one that B.B. tested. thats a great price that you quoted. Mine is just like that one but has brown stock.
I love that rifle, it’s easy to be very accurate with. I would hand pump it but my A.F. pump broke again (sent it off again) so I’m using the scuba tank. The adustment screw I mentioned is an air volume screw just like on the Marauder. The spring is adjustable if you can figure out turn the screw it’s either a anti fidle cap or a screw without a slot. But as it turned out I didn’t have to mess with it because I get 30 good shots 830 av. f.p.s. w (chrony) 8.4 gr. jsb. that was about half a turn on that jet screw.
Oh by the way my stock is not laminated,wish it was.
Loren
Thanks Loren, all good info!
Ya, that gun on the CZ site is a beauty with the red stock.
Is your fill port accessible without removing the cylinder? What type of connector?
Brian:
Yes you can fill the cyl. on gun. I’m not sure the CZ has the same fill port, mine has to use the A/A adaptor. I would like to have an extra tank preferably with a gauge.
Loren
Loren, I would look for the extra tank from the S200 “target model” (whatever that means) as I believe it has the gage/manometer where the fill cap is on yours. Downside would be, need to remove tank to fill but… I think it is a more std type of fitting, not the AA proprietary one (which looks pretty fragile to me with that little 90 degree locking device?)
Brian:
The A/A adaptor works fine but I wouldn’t mind removing tank to fill, it’s easy. I was just on the CZ of America site, they have some real beauties including that S200 and it does have the gauge on the tank.
Loren
Loren,
Thanks for telling me that. There is no such screw on the rifle I have.
B.B.
Brian in Idaho,
Regarding your and Edith’s very valid question about my brother-in-law and mercy shots: yes indeed, to the best of my knowledge he has never missed, and NEVER shoots at something he won’t eat. Or conversely, he will always eat anything he takes down. His primary target is a species of deer, but I don’t know which. He doesn’t go for anything bigger because he has to butcher and carry back out on his back all the meat. But he’s not an idiot- he doesn’t disappear into the bush for three days with just one bullet and his rifle– he also has along at least two handguns (one auto and one revolver) for personal protection, and to deliver the coup de grâce if necessary to a wounded animal. But for that primary hunting weapon of his, a hand built 7 mm rifle with a custom barrel, he takes just the one cartridge, lovingly reloaded and assembled in the minutest detail. He turned down an invitation in 2000 to represent his country in the Sydney Olympics deferring the honor to a friend of his who he said was an even better shot than himself, though I believe he was just being modest. He’s just very shy. His friend ended up placing 4th or 5th or something like that, not too shabby for a third world country.
-AlanL
BB,
I followed your link to the AA S400 MPR FT, which translates to :
/product/air-arms-s400-mpr-ft-poplar-stock?m=2225
I don’t know much about the different kinds of wood but is this really a Poplar stock model?
I also noted in the “see also” column to its left a rifle that looks closer to what I remember as Poplar.
Are there different kinds of Poplar?
-Chuck
Chuck,
Both are poplar, but they have different stains applied.
Edith
Chuck,
While Americans know about poplar wood, Air Arms just discovered it three years ago. They are amazed by how well it takes stains.
Yes, the stock is poplar. In the U.S. that’s not saying anything, like birch in Russia, but the guys in the UK are all agog.
B.B.
And isn’t the Poplar wood considered stronger than walnut due to the more consistent (and more blah looking) grain structure?
That’s very interesting about the UK liking poplar for stocks. Before the explosion of particle board in furniture, poplar was used as the filler wood underneath expensive veneers. It grows fast, straight, tall, and clear in the south east, especially on steep hillsides.
Lloyd
I have worked with poplar and while agree with those that think it’s ugly, the stuff is tough though and has consistent grain. As far as staining it, I have not tried, as I always figured it to be a paint grade wood. I have use poplar to replace some of the framing that had rotted out on my first motorhome and built furniture with it as well. Makes sense that it would perform well as a gunstock. I had considered making a stock once until I discovered Boyd’s Gunstocks sells ’em for about $100 and dropped the idea like a hot rock. I think the real strength of poplar comes in because it’s not really hard like walnut or oak, rather it seems to have the right amount of ‘give’ to it. Just my $.02 waiting for the coffee to kick in on a Sunday am!
ka
B.B.
I just looked at the pictures of the S400’s on the Pyramyd site, and it apears to me that the f.t. model has no adjustment port but the one with target sights has one below the loading port, right side.
You have to click on closer look.
Loren
Brian,
The Twice comes in .22 also. Did you miss that?
B.B.
Missed it like an Air Arms Twice zinging a pellet past me!
Side note for all, stating the obvious here, but keep those poor souls in Japan in your prayers. That tsunami video coverage is amazing, and tragic!
BB,
It seems like more and more manufacturers are embracing .25 for hunting, but not AA…. yet. Does the Twice seem to have the potential for .25?
BTW, if you are taking votes, I think it’s a nice looking gun.
Lloyd
Lloyd,
It’s probably the magazine that is stopping them. Yes, the rifle has the potential.
B.B.
Does anybody know I can find written instructions on rebuilding a Hill hand pump? I have the illustrations that Hill publishes, and they are great for where the parts go in the valve bodies once it is apart, but it is lacking on how to get it apart. I may have broken the pump trying, and don’t want to go much farther without a better idea of what I’m doing. I have been unable to find anything googling it.
I’m sure it is easy after you’ve done it once, but I need to get over that hump 🙂
Alan in MI
I just heard Cecil Whiteside passed. I never had the chance to meet him but bought several guns from him and had a few very memorable conversations over the phone with him. He was a passionate collector and shared information freely.
The airgun world has lost a fine member.
kevin
Kevin,
I knew Cecil well. He was always at the airgun shows and he always had something unusual to show.
Cecil was an F4 pilot who was trained in the “Death Launch” of the M82 gravity nuclear bomb. The pilot would execute a rapid climb and release the bomb while in the climb so it would arc towards the target, while the plane turned and rapidly flew in the opposite direction. There was a likely chance of being destroyed by the blast.
He was a character, and his passing, along with Ted Osborn’s last month, leaves our hobby with a void that cannot be filled.
B.B.
B.B.,
I think I like everything about this gun, except for the high price. As others have noted, it will get very expensive once you’ve got everything you need to make it functional. This really adds meaning to the question, can you afford it? Lots of guys will say, I could, if there weren’t so many other options, including fire-arms. I’ve walked into gun stores and held some very nice rifles at under $500, again, including firearms. Aside from price, I think this rifle has everything to love. It’s absolutely beautiful! Also, when compared to the S510’s, you’re paying an extra $400.00 for maybe twice as many shots. I’m not conviced that this adds much in the way of value to the hunter. My understanding is that hunters don’t get enough opportunities to take as many shots as are already provided by something like the S510’s (and others). So this rifle wasn’t necessarily designed for the practical hunter. Well, it could be if you consider that being able to take 60 shots is great for practice. What I would like to see are more manufacturers bringing more value added features, and not raising prices. One thing that I would love to see, even in a hunting rifle, is a Anschutz-like utility rail so that a sling could be used for either the kneeling or prone position. Just a personal preference, but one that would definitely motivate me to buy, and not just admire, which is what a lot of these pricey guns limit themselves to. Just my opinion.
Victor
I have an Air Force PCP pump that has worked great for the first few months then stated leaking. I tried taking the fittings off and resealing them with again with Teflon tape. To no avail, it still leaks. I only use it to fill my mrod and use the procedures you described in one of your post on hand pumps. I am beginning to think that it is leaking around the base of the shaft.
Squirt some windex or otherwise soapy water around the joints and see where it bubbles.
twotalon
Also have had crud in the bleed valve that makes it leak.
twotalon
I have not taken the release valve off yet, I will try that and give it a good cleaning.
English blokes can’t own this one? Bloody hell!
That’s like the Jack Daniels distillery. It’s in a dry county.
Slinging Lead,
Jack Daniels distillery in a dry county. That’s almost funny. The air-gun nationals use to be held in Rogers Arkansas, also a dry country. The local teenager’s would just drive into the next state and buy their liquor. Worse than that, they would get high on anything that they could get their hands on, usually in aerosol form. There were a lot of problems with that area, some of which I would not mention here. Prior to that, I had never even heard of a “dry county”. We stopped competing in that tournament, even though I always won at least one of our regional championships (air rifle or air pistol). My coaches decided that it just wasn’t worth it.
Victor
I meant county, not country. Good lord! Jesus would be arrested for making wine in such a country!
Wow. Sure a lot of discussion about the price of the Air Arms Twice.
Let’s not overlook the dollar vs. euro component when evaluating price.
I don’t own a Twice and will not buy a Twice but here’s why I think it’s worth it.
Air Arms are known for “out of the box” accuracy, quality and reliability. You can’t say that about the other guns (like marauders) that some are comparing. Someone said condor with 4 barrels. I’ve never owned a condor or talon. I personally wouldn’t compare a condor or talon to an air arms gun since personally I’m not a fan of “black” guns and the rear bottle for a consistent cheek weld never appealed to me. I know there is a cult like following for these guns and the modular platform that is easy to adapt to almost unlimited configurations (like a ruger 10/22) is intriguing.
Whether or not you’re willing to spend money on quality is personal in my experience. I can tell you the second hand buyers recognize and pay for quality and the resale on air arms guns in general is superior to the others that were mentioned.
In my view the Twice was introduced primarily because of shot count. Obviously the new Italian? stock design helps with this new gun introduction. Do hunters need this high shot count? Some do. I do. I also like the high shot count when plinking and target shooting since I like to shoot rather than fill a gun.
When considering shot count, quality, adjustable power, weight, trigger adjustability, multi-shot capability and accuracy the comparisons I would make would be the daystate, theoben and FX lines. Specifically, airwolf, rapid and royale. If you make these comparisons you’ll probably agree that the Twice is a bargain price.
My two cents.
kevin
B.B.,
I hate being “that guy” but………..
back in January you promised a report on your new HW 55 CM (Custom Match). Is it in the queue yet?
Still funny to me that you feared that you would run out of airgun related topics to keep a blog running.
kevin
Kevin,
You can be “that guy” if you like. Yes, I will review the HW 55 CM soon. In fact, look to next Friday’s blog for a sneak preview.
A couple weeks ago I realized that I wasn’t reviewing new airguns fast enough, so I’ve put myself on that path to catch up. But I will still take some time to do the occasional vintage gun like the 55 CM.
Thanks,
B.B.
B.B.,
Wonderful. Thanks.
Seems relevant to the new guns that we also remember the “roots” of air guns. Getting an depth look at guns like the HW 55 CM better help me understand where we came from and why we’re here.
kevin
B.B.
Though it is possible there have been minor design changes (my wood is shaped a little different than the S400 MPR FT you have), I can still see the threaded hole in the picture for part three. It is on the right side of the rifle, almost straight down from the leading edge of the loading port, but near the rear of the air reservoir, and on level with it. I can’t see the allen head screw in there either, but it is there. I just turned it back and forth again with a allen wrench.
To the poster that thinks it’s a 200S, it absolutely is not. I’m 100% sure about that. LOL.
Coax,
Okay! Now I gotcha!
I found the screw you refer to and I will play with it as you suggest. If something happens, I will do a special report for you.
Thanks for showing me where it is.
B.B.
Coax:
I’m that poster, I’m sorry. Looks like you have a great rifle there.
Loren
Sorry for any confusion. Thanks.
It has been quite some time since I’ve looked at the blog/forum. Been a little busy and a little out of sorts, healthwise. Came across this short quote and felt that it fit this blog/forum as to what we are here for:
“Wisdom begins in wonder.”
Socrates
rikib
Hey RikiB, hope all is well (better?) with you?
What’s new with airguns and related stuff at your place?
Brian,
No results from medical tests, more coming this week.
Airguns, well I only have one, a modified 2240. Funny thing is it has disappeared lately. Wife says she did not hide it, 🙂 . I’ve been spending a lot of time helping my dad out with the new place they bought so haven’t done much around our place. Pretty much finished at mum and dad’s, they will be heading back north next week. Once I start doing things around here I’m sure my gun will magically appear again 🙂 Maybe I need to secretly order another and keep it hidden 🙂 🙂
rikib
I am posting this remark and question for someone who sent it to the wrong address,
I was sure how get a hold of you and ask a question. I bought an IZH 61 and Air Venture BJ Intermount and with that I bought a 1 Leapers Gen 4x32AO Big Buster Scope. Are they all combatable?
John
John,
The only Air Venturi intermount I find on the Pyramyd AIR website is for a multi-pump pneumatic. The IZH 61 doesn’t need an intermount. The scope rings can clamp directly to the rifle, as it has 11mm dovetails already. An intermount is to add 11mm dovetails to guns that don’t already have them.
You don’t mention getting rings. You will need them, and the Bug Buster usually needs two-piece rings because the scope tube is so short.
The scope will work fine on this rifle, if you get the right rings. Leapers Accushot one-piece rings will work, plus they give you some flexibility when mounting the scope:
/product/leapers-accushot-1-pc-bi-directional-offset-mount-w-1-rings-high-11mm?a=2409
I hope this helps,
B.B.
John,
It sounds like you already have the intermount on order so…if those two rail mounts in the picture will fit an 11mm rail and those screw holes in the Weaver/Picatinny rail line up properly with the 11mm rail on the IZH-61 you might have a workable combination.
There isn’t much room to work with on the 61’s rail. It’s two very short rails actually that straddle the place where the pelets are loaded. I suppose if you wanted to risk it, if the holes in the W/P rail don’t line up, you could risk drilling new ones.
Try what you get and let us know how it works. Someone here can make recommendation as to what works with them and the PA reps woyld be glad to help you, also.
-Chuck
BB,
what was that load you use for .45auto? It’s only the third time you’ve told me.
ka
KA,
Standard large pistol primer, 5.1 grains of Titegroup, and a 200-grain flat-point round-nosed lead bullet.
B.B.
BB,
Thanks. I was thinking the powder was an Alliant. Hodgdon Titegroup, got it.
ka
This quote is for you B.B. and everything you give to us:
“A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men.”
Plato
You are an accomplished ONE! Thanks for all you bring to us! Edith, you’re included in this!
rikib 🙂
Ditto.
Good one Rick!
Thanks SL,
Thought the comment had gone unnoticed. They as well as others are what keeps this going!
rikib 🙂